Double bin dumping machine



Aug. 17, 1965 Filed Feb. 19, 1965 S. CIRAOLO DOUBLE BIN DUMPING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 SAMUEL CIRAOLO BY S/@h ATTORNEY Aug. 17, 1965 s. clRAoLo 3,200,974

DOUBLE BIN DUMPING MACHINE 4 Filed Feb. 19, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

SAMUEL C I RAOLO ATTO R N EY United States Patent O 3,200,974 DGUBLE BIN DUMPING MACHINE Samuel Ciraolo, Modesto, Calif., assiguor, by mesne assignments, to Carnation Company, Los Angeies, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 259,667 4 Claims. (Cl. 214-314) This invention relates to a bin dumping machine and more speciiically relates to a machine for dumping a plurality of bins which are stacked one on top of the other.`

In the large scale handling of fruits and vegetables, such as in bringing fruit to a Cannery, it is conventional to employ large wooden bins. These bins are ordinarily on skids and are handled two high by forklift trucks. Heretofore, it has been the practice to lift ofIr the top bin from each stack of two and dump it, and then dump the bottom bin, and return the bins to their former stacked relationship. Obviously, the removal of one bin from the other, the individual dumping, and the returning of the bins to a stack involves a considerable amount of time and labor.

In accordance with the present invention, a simple bin dumping machine is provided wherein the stacked bins are brought to the machine, as by a forklift truck,

providing a framework wherein the stacked bins canbe` placed, said framework serving to invert the stack of bins, causing the top bin to dump and then sliding the top bin with respect to the bottom bin whereby the bottom bin is allowed to dump. The top bin is then slid back into place, the stack reinverted, and the two empty bins can be removed. Although the invention will be described in terms of a bin dumping machine wherein the bins are stacked two high, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the machine could be built to dump three or more bins in stacked relationship.

In the drawings forming a part of this application:

FIGURE l is a side view of a device embodying the present invention.

FGURE 2 is a front view of the machine shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the device in section, with two bins stacked thereon preparatory to dumping.

FIGURE 4 is a view of the samevparts shown in FIG- URE 3 showing the relationship at the time the upper bin is being dumped.

FIGURE 5 is a similar view showing the relationship of the parts while the lower bin is being dumped.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, there is shown a machine having supporting legs 7 supporting a fixed framework 9 some distance above the lioor level 11. It will be obvious from the description which follows that the base member of the frame 9 must be somewhat above the level of the tank or bins into which the material is dumped, but that otherwise the legs 7 are unnecessary. For instance, if the dumping occurs into a pit in the oor, the frame member 9 could be at iioor level. The two forward legs are extended as at 13 and 15 and support the bearings 17 and 19, respectively. The bearings support a shaft 21 for rotation, said shaft being provided at either end with sprockets 23 and Z5. Roller chains 27 and 29 are trained around the respective sprockets, each of the roller chains being attached at one end to its sprocket as at 3G, the opposite ends of each of the roller chains being attached to one of the hydraulic cylinders 31 and 33.

y disarm Patented Aug.` 17, 1965 Attached to the shaft 21is a movable frame member 35 to which is attached a bottom frame member 37, these members carrying side frames 39 and 41, the side frames including a superstructure 43 with rollers 45 and 47 mounted thereon. The side members 39 and 41 each have a slot 49 in their forward portions through which shaft 51 passes, the shaft 51 supporting a bar or similar pusherelement 55. The ends of the shaft 51 are attached to the piston rods of the second pair of hydraulic cylinders 57 and 59.

A hydraulic pump and motor 61 having solenoid valves 63 and 65 is connected by suitable lines to the first pair of hydraulic cylinders 31 and 33 and to the second pair of hydraulic cylinders 57 and 59 so that either pair of cylinders can be actuated in either direction independently by an operator. The lines connecting the pump to the second pair of cylinders are Amade at least in part of lexible tubing as at 53 for reasons which will be later apparent.

In FIGURES 3 through 5, the sequence of operations is shown. Here, a lower bin 67 and an upper bin 69 have been placed on the frame, as is shown in FIGURE 3. The cylinders 31 and 33 are then actuated, tilting the frame as shown in FIGURE 4, dumping the contents of the upper bin. It will be noted that the upper bin is prevented from lfalling off the stack by means of the rollers 45 and 47 and is prevented from sliding forward by means of the bar 55. Thus, as shown in FIG- URE 4, both bins are restrained on the stack and the upper bin o9, is dumped while of course, bin o7 is prevented from being dumped by the bottom of bin 69. As soon as the upper bin has emptied the cylinders 57 and 59 are actuated, drawing the upper bin 69 upwardly as is shown in FIGURE 5 so that the lower bin 67 can now dump. As soon as the lower bin 67 has been dumped, the action of cylinders 57 and 59 is reversed so that the bins are restored to the relationship shown in FIGURE 4 and the cylinders 31 and 33 then reverse, tliting the whole structure back to the position shown in FIGURE 3, whereupon the empty bins can be removed and new bins brought in for a repetition of the cycle.

Although hydraulic cylinders have been shown as the actuating means, it is obvious that other driving means could be employed. Further, the exact sequence of operations as outlined above need not be followed. For instance, the top bin can be moved back simultaneously with the tilting movement so that both bins dump substantially at once. Similarly, the top` bin need not be restored to its superimposed relationship before the frame commences to return to its loading position, but both restoring actions can be carried on simultaneously.

Although the pivot point for the turning movement is located near the top of the bottom bin, since this gives better balance, the pivot point can be lower than this.

I claim:

1. A multiple bin dumping machine comprising in combination:

(a) a frame member adapted to hold thereon a bottom bin and an upper bin in superimposed relationship;

(b) means for preventing relative vertical movement .of the bins;-

(c) means for turning said frame to an inverted position whereby both bins are at least partly inverted and whereby said top bin is dumped; and

(d) means for moving the top bin laterally with respect to the bottom bin, said lateral movement of the top bin effecting release of the material in the bottom bin.

2. A multiple bin dumping machine comprising in combination:

(a) a frame member adapted to hold thereon a bottom ice bin and an upper bin in superimposed upright relationship;

(b) means for preventing relative vertical movement of the bins;V

(c) means Ifor turning said frame to an inverted po- 5 sition whereby both bins are at least partly inverted and whereby said top bin is dumped;

(d) means for moving the top bin laterally with respect to the bottom bin whereby the bottom bin is dumped, and for realigning said bins into a super- 10 imposed position; and (e) means for tilting said frame from the inverted position to the upright position whereby the bins can be removed from the bin dumping machin. r 2,136,488 3. multiple bin dumping machine comprising in 1) 2,589,342

'combinatiom 2,626,071

(a) a frame member adapted to hold thereon a bottom 2,375,92

bin and an upper bin in superimposed relationship; 2,905,344 (b) hold down means for preventing vertical move- 20 ment of the two bins; (c) means for turning the said frame to an inverted position whereby both bins are at least partly inverted and whereby said top bin is dumped; and

(d) means carried -by the frame for moving the top bin laterally with respect to the bottom bin while the frame remainsin an inverted position whereby the vbottom lbin is dumped.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein a first hydraulic means is used to turn the frame member and a second hydraulic means is used to move the top bin laterally with respect to the bottom bin.

Referenees Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner. HUGO O, SCHULZ, Examiner. 

1. A MULTIPLE BIN DUMPING MACHINE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A FRAME MEMBER ADAPTTED TO HOLD THEREON A BOTTOM BIN AND AN UPPER BIN IN SUPERIMPOSED RELATIONSHIP; (B) MEANS FOR PREVENTING RELATIVE VERTICAL MOVEMMENT OF THE BINS; (C) MEANS FOR TURNING SAID FRAME TO AN INVERTED POSITION WHEREBY BOTH BINS ARE AT LEAST PARTLY INVERTED AND WHEREBY SAID TOP BIN IS DUMPED; AND (D) MEANS FOR MOVING THE TOP BIN LATERALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE BOTTOM BIN, SAID LATERAL MOVEMENT OF THE TOP BIN EFFECTING RELEASE OF THE MATERIAL IN THE BOTTOM BIN. 